An international shortlist has been chosen to develop proposals for the external spaces to the Imperial War Museum North in The Quays, Trafford.

The firms shortlisted are:

Kinnear Landscape Architects, London

White Arkitekter AB, Goteborg, Sweden

Patel Taylor Architects, London

Topotek 1, Berlin, Germany

Field Operations, New York, USA

Following its announcement in September the competition attracted interest from all over the world, with 54 design teams applying to take part in the competition.

Jim Forrester, director of IWMN, said: "Our stunning Libeskind building continues to generate much interest and argument, and now, with the next phase of the Quays regeneration underway, we are ready to make more of its setting.

"The challenge is to make the outside areas of the museum as striking, memorable and rewarding as the building and its displays already are."

Maggie Mullan, RIBA architectural adviser to the competition, said: "It was fantastic to get such international interest in this singular project. We are excited with the quality and range of teams we have shortlisted and we are looking forward to seeing their designs in the New Year."